Distanced by Alberto Contador with two kilometres to go, Joaquim Rodriguez put in a characteristic final kilometre burst to get back up to his closest rival and then cannon clear for his third stage win of the race.

The Katusha rider hit the line at Puerto de Ancares five seconds ahead of the 2008 race winner and also gained a further four seconds in time bonuses. Contador, who appeared to have done everything right after strong preparatory work by his Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank team, was shaken by the turnaround and crossed the line frustrated by his second place.

He’s still chasing his first win since his return from suspension; more significantly, he’s trying to exploit Rodriguez’s slight frailty on longer climbs, although that wasn’t very evident today.

“It was a very hard and fast stage: the breakaway was always kept under control,” said Rodriguez. “We were calm because we had Losada in it: he did a very good job. Moreover I had Dani Moreno with me, so when we caught Alberto I had two team-mates that could help me in the final part. The team worked great.

“When Contador and Froome tried to attack we let them go; I preferred to climb at my rhythm.”

Valverde had been aggressive three kilometres out but was unable to match the other two when it counted. He chased behind and ended up with third, 13 seconds behind the stage winner and eight behind Contador. Katusha’s Dani Moreno rolled in fourth, 35 seconds adrift and three ahead of Chris Froome (Sky), who suffered on the climb, recovered sufficiently near the summit to attack in pursuit of Contador, then cracked again.

Garmin-Sharp’s Andrew Talansky was impressive in sixth, showing that he could fare very well in the climbs to come.

The stage was marked by a break of sixteen riders, who went clear early on and had a three minute lead with just under 50 kilometres left. Alberto Losada (Katusha) pushed clear from this fragmenting group inside the final 20 kilometres and held a two minute lead on the bunch; this was gradually reduced, though, and he finally succumbed inside the final five kilometres.

When the stage results and bonuses were calculated out, Rodriguez had extended his overall lead to 22 seconds over Contador, one minute 41 on Froome and Valverde and four minutes 16 seconds on Moreno.

“I’ve gained some more seconds but there are still three mountain stages that can change everything,” he said. “It's not only a matter of Contador and me. When Valverde attacks he proves to be very strong, while Froome at first seemed to drop off, then he came back and attacked himself. Everything can happen.”

Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale), Talansky and Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) are between five and six and a half minutes back and locked into their own battle for sixth place.

How it played out:

Today’s stage was one of the toughest in this years race, running a relatively short 149.2 kilometres from Palas de Rei to Puerto de Ancares, but croosing no less than five categorised climbs. These were the Alto de Castro (cat. 3, km. 34), Alto de Vilaesteva (cat. 2, km. 71), Alto de O Lago (Cat. 3, km. 90), Alto Folgueiras de Aigas (cat. 1, km. 126) and the Puerto de Ancares (cat. 3, km. 149). The riders also faced two intermediate sprints, at Sarria (km 51.7) and Murias (km. 137).

Mulitiple former Vuelta King of the Mountains Moncoutie was in the break to try to take points for that competition, and beat Pauwels to the top of the Alto de Castro. Ballan took the points at the intermediate sprint in Sarria (km 51.7), with the break approximately two minutes clear there.

Clarke then beat Pauwels and Moncoutie to the top of the Alto de Vilaesteva (cat. 2, km. 71), where the gap had dropped to a minute and a half, but this inched higher again afterwards. That same rider order determined the points on the Alto de Vilaesteva (cat. 2, km. 71) and the Alto de O Lago (Cat. 3, km. 90), with Clarke impressing with his efforts.

The escape started to break up after that point, with former world champion Ballan pushing on with Bakelants and Molard. They were brought back, though, with the action helping push the gap over the bunch to three minutes.

In the latter group, Contador’s Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank team was pushing the pace to try to set things up for its leader. The riders eased off the gas when Contador had a front wheel problem, the Spaniard getting a replacement from his team-mate and returning quit quickly, then the pacesetting continued.

Clarke once again flexed his climbing muscles on the Alto Folgueiras de Aigas (cat. 1, km. 126), again beating Pauwels and Moncoutie. Behind, a number of those in the break were dropped under the pressure.
The push for the finish:

Losada was aware the gap was falling and attacked, going clear alone and building and advantage of two minutes back to the bunch. He took the intermediate sprint at Murias (km. 137), while Garate and Pauwels were second and third.

Inside the final ten kilometres, the pressure increased and big names started to be shed from the fast-shrinking peloton. Gesink, Anton and Mollema were some of those under pressure, while Froome and Roche were also uncomfortable. Losada, meanwhile, was steadily being brought back and would soon be caught.

Valverde turned the screw with three kilometres to go, drawing Contador clear. The latter surged with 2.7 kilometres remaining but Valverde held him and Rodriguez got back up. His Katusha team-mate Dani Moreno also bridged, as did Talansky.

Behind, Froome was under pressure but was gradually brought back up by his Sky team-mates, as were Roche and Ten Dam (Rabobank).

Just before the junction was made and with 1.9 kilometres left Contador put in a huge attack and opened a gap right away.

Froome recovered dramatically and put in a big surge with one kilometre to go, leaving the other chasers behind. They got back up, though, and he blew.

Rodriguez kicked in a bid to get back to Contador and put Valverde out the back. He went past Contador, who visibly slumped. The Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank rider tried again, but the race leader was completely in control and blasted clear, opening a five second gap by the line and taking an additional four second time bonus over Contador.

Valverde came in twelve seconds back in third, with Moreno, Froome and Talansky next over the line. When the bonuses were allocated, Rodriguez ended the day 22 seconds clear of Contador, further extending his lead. Froome just about held onto third, with Valverde moving level on time and one minute 41seconds back. Moreno, Gesink, Roche and Talansky completed the top eight.